Lawton’s Memorial Day Weekend Is Packed With Family-friendly Events

The official kickoff weekend for summer in Oklahoma is finally here! Memorial Day Weekend is when Oklahoma residents get out the grill, open the pool and hit the lake. And in Lawton, there's several activities and events available to kick summer off right.

Summer is my favorite season! I love spending days by my pool, and we'll have it ready to go for Memorial Day weekend. I also look forward to the annual Lawton Fort Sill Freedom Festival, spending weekends at a local rodeo or going for a drive in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

Celebrate Memorial Day in Lawton with the opening of aquatic facilities, a music festival and more!

Southwest Oklahoma is one of the best places to spend the summer, and it all kicks off Memorial Day weekend! See below the activities and events going on in and around Lawton this Memorial Day weekend.

Roots Ball - May 22-24 - Medicine Park, Oklahoma

Lawton's neighbor Medicine Park will host the town's ninth annual Roots Ball May 22-24! The annual music festival is free and open to the public, and will feature a weekend full of live music.

I love live music, especially watching my friends perform in Lawton. In 2024, my friends and I spent an awesome day in Medicine Park at the Roots Ball and got to watch our friends in Garage Mahalix perform. Be sure to remember to bring your lawn chair if you're heading to the Roots Ball this year!

The 2026 Roots Ball will feature live music from the following lineup this weekend, plus more performers.

• Grateful Talking Dead Heads
• Moonshroom
• Ponder the Albatross
• Justin Larkin
• Voodoo Cadillacs
• Rachel & Griffin
• Brad Fielder Junk Band

More information about the ninth annual Roots Ball in Medicine Park this Memorial Day weekend is available on the festival's official Facebook event page.

LETRA Opening Day - May 22 - Fort Sill, Oklahoma

One of the best places to spend summer's day, especially with the kids, is the Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area (LETRA) on Fort Sill! It's the perfect place to enjoy all kinds of lake activities. And to kickoff Memorial Day weekend, LETRA will host its Opening Day on Friday, May 22.

From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. LETRA will host its Opening Day, free and open to the public. On opening day, LETRA visitors can enjoy paddleboarding, kayaking, mini golf, and boat rentals, plus access to the beach and waterslides. Opening Day at LETRA is free and open to the public, but there may be additional fees for other activities.

LETRA is located on Fort Sill at 7463 Deer Creek Canyon Road. More information about LETA and Opening Day can be found on the Fort Sill Family MWR website.

City of Lawton Aquatics Facilities Opening Day - May 25 - Lawton, Oklahoma

Lawton residents can get their swimsuits out on Memorial Day this year for the grand opening of the City of Lawton's aquatic facilities. The city's wading pools, splash pads and the new Aquatics Center will all open for the summer season on Monday, May 25.

On Memorial Day, the City of Lawton will offer free admission to the Aquatic Center from 1-8 p.m. The city's wading pools and splash pads do not charge admission. On Monday, the City of Lawton will also host a Memorial Day Lap Swim to honor fallen soldiers. Residents who want to participate in the lap swim can sign up online.

Below are the City of Lawton aquatic facilities that will open on Monday, May 25.

• Splash Pads - Elmer Thomas Park, KidZone (Greer Park), and Clement Washington Sr.
• Wading Pools - 35th Division Park, Harmon Park, and Mocine Park
• Aquatic Center - Elmer Thomas Park

After Monday, Lawton's aquatic facilities will be open throughout the summer. The facilities typically close in August or September. Below are the schedules for each location.

• Splash Pads
  • Elmer Thomas Park and KidZone (Greer Park) - 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Daily
  • Clement Washington Sr. - 1-5 p.m. Monday through Friday
• Wading Pools
  • All wading pools (35th Division Park, Harmon Park, and Mocine Park) will be open from 1-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Aquatic Center
  • Monday - Closed for maintenance.
  • 1-8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
  • 1-5 p.m. Sunday

For more information about the City of Lawton's aquatic facilities, visit the city's official website.

READ MORE: Get Ready For Lawton's Summer Filled With Exciting Events